Newspaper headlines: Novichok suspect named and ‘criminal’ cuts

Image caption The second suspect in the Salisbury poisoning has been “unmasked” as a military doctor working for Russian intelligence, the Times reports. The man was named as Alexander Mishkin by the Bellingcat investigative website, less than a fortnight after they revealed the identity of the other suspect accused of carrying out the nerve agent attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal. Image caption The Guardian also has a picture of the man named as Dr Mishkin on its front page. In its lead story the paper says the Metropolitan Police’s use of force has risen sharply in the past year, with black people more likely to be affected than anyone else. Image caption The Daily Express leads on a story about police cuts, reporting that just six British forces still have officers on their front desk. The paper calls the revelations “criminal” amid “soaring violent crime”. Image caption The Sun says Facebook has been branded “immoral” after paying only £7.4m in tax last year, despite sales of more than £1.2bn. The company’s tax bill was cut by more than half after claiming a relief of £8.4m for awarding shares to staff, the paper says. Image caption The Daily Mail leads on claims that Pret a Manger’s “fresh” baguettes are made in a French factory and can be kept in freezers for up to a year before being used. The company is in the spotlight after it was revealed a second customer died following an allergic reaction to one of its products. Image caption The Metro also reports on the death of the Pret customer, who it says was a mother of five daughters with three stepsons. Celia Marsh was having lunch with her family when she suffered a fatal allergic reaction to a flatbread which was labelled dairy-free but was found to have traces of dairy protein, the paper says. Image caption The UK is attempting to block the return of at least nine Britons held in Syria over links to so-called Islamic State (IS), the Daily Telegraph reports. The paper says it comes as prosecutors warn they may not have the power to bring returning IS fighters to justice. Image caption A DNA test costing less than £40 could show if a baby is born with a predisposition to heart disease, the i reports. The paper says individuals identified as at risk could be offered preventative help through lifestyle changes and medicine. Image caption “You are cha-cha chucked” is the headline in the Daily Mirror. The paper says Strictly star Seann Walsh has been “dumped” by his girlfriend after admitting kissing his dance partner Katya Jones. Image caption The Daily Star’s front page has a story about the wife of world snooker champion Mark Williams.

A number of papers and commentators raise concerns about the consequences of cutting police numbers.

The Daily Express – under the headline, “Thin blue line gets thinner” – leads with figures showing that just six police forces in England and Wales have officers on their front desks.

It says forces are now increasingly reliant on civilian staff to deal with victims and witnesses.

According to the Guardian’s lead, the Metropolitan Police’s use of force has risen sharply in the past year, with black people far more likely to be on the receiving end.

It reveals the force deployed methods ranging from handcuffing to the use of stun guns, CS spray, batons and guns more than 41,000 times between April and August of this year – 270 times a day on average.

That compares with more than 23,000 during the same period last year – a 79% rise.

The Met tells the paper officers use force only when a threat is perceived to public – or their own – safety and the figures should not be compared with population demographics.

The UK is attempting to block the return of at least nine Britons held in Syria over links to Islamic State, according to the Telegraph.

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It says five suspects – including two members of an IS group dubbed the “Beatles” – have already been named, but the identities of two others, as well as two women and their children, are being protected.

It quotes a senior official for the semi-autonomous Kurdish enclave in Syria – where many of the fighters are held – as saying Britain should take on its moral and humanistic duty towards its citizens.

The paper calls on the government to update the crime of treason if it feels there’s not enough evidence to try them here.

Image copyrightPAImage caption Pret a Manger faces scrutiny in the Mail, which claims its “fresh” baguettes can be kept in freezers for up to a year before being used

It says the sandwich chain regularly describes its products as natural and boasts of baking bread throughout the day in-store.

But – the paper goes on – they are part-baked and frozen to -18C on an industrial estate near Rennes, and then shipped to Pret stores. Staff finish cooking the bread in ovens before adding fillings, the paper adds.

The company tells the paper: “Once the bread is fully-baked in shops, it is sold on the day or given to charity.”

Finally, there’s widespread coverage of a statement by the girlfriend of Strictly star Seann Walsh, who has reportedly ended their relationship after pictures emerged of him kissing his dance partner, Katya Jones.